Greening livestock landscapes under climate change Insights from stakeholder consultations in Latin America and the Caribbean Organizing Committee of the Two Degree Initative Grand Challenge NOVEMBER 2020 Key messages contribute—directly and indirectly—with approximately 30% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (Steiner n Pilot actions to transition towards sustainable et al. 2020). livestock have been rolled out in many countries across Latin America and the Caribbean, with The Two-Degree Initiative, a global alliance led by the support from research institutes, universities, CGIAR Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security government and non-government entities, Research Program (CCAFS), seeks to improve nutrition generating important learnings for the sector. and livelihoods of millions of small-scale farmers under climate change, by promoting more productive, resilient n Collaboration with private actors— especially and low-emission sustainable crop, livestock and fish farmer groups and associations—are being production and value chains. The initiative focuses on formed to scale initiatives for low-emission meat eight regional challenges aligned to a theory of change and dairy value chains. that proposes to transform the food production system by n Many existing farm and landscape management 2030. Each challenge is structured around three inter- initiatives at national and sub-national levels— linked implementation strategies: i) Support political and including context-adapted production institutional reforms for transformational change; ii) practices—can deliver valuable knowledge and Improve information and access to agroclimatic learnings with relevance for the entire region. information services; iii) Increase access to climate-smart n Monitoring, Reporting and Verification (MRV) of innovations. emissions of greenhouse gases needs to be “Low emissions meat and dairy in Latin America and the guided by simple, user-friendly and reliable Caribbean (LAC)” (also known as “Greening Livestock systems. These should allow quantifying climate Landscapes”) is one of the eight Grand Challenges, led mitigation and co-benefits by implementing by The Center for International Forestry Research sustainable livestock practices, in line with the (CIFOR) – World Agroforestry (ICRAF), in collaboration level of ambition of the Paris Agreement goals. with The Alliance Bioversity – International Center for More efforts are needed to improve knowledge Tropical Agriculture (CIAT), CCAFS, the Global Research n and awareness of environmental, social and Alliance on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases (GRA), and economic benefits of sustainable livestock World Resources Institute (WRI). Its objectives are to link practices, to incentivize additional private and science, business, landscape planning and policy to en- public sector investment. courage the transition to sustainable low-emission live- stock value chains, and the restoration of pastures and promotion of silvopastoral systems in the next decade. Growing evidence on the effects of climate change on The initiative will build on key opportunities in the region, food production systems—especially those involving which focus on the recovery of degraded pastureland, on smallholders in the sub-tropics— has shown that they are halting deforestation, on reducing food loss and waste, suffering the worst consequences. These systems also and the transition to efficient use of renewable energy. In the framework of this Grand Challenge, WRI and part- possible partnerships related to the R4D priorities. ners conducted a series of dialogues with the aim to de- The sessions were organized by regions (tropical velop, together with regional stakeholders, a research-for- South America, temperate South America, and development roadmap and initiate the building of allianc- Mesoamerica and the Caribbean) to capture context- es and networks. This document summarizes the main specific insights. The discussions were interactive, findings from these consultations. using the Mural collaborative tool. Stakeholder Consultations Five thematic areas for a transformative research agenda Three objectives were pursued through the consultations: The online survey uncovered several thematic areas with n Take stock of the challenges and opportunities for moderate ongoing research yet with significant creating low-emission dairy and meat sectors in LAC knowledge gaps (lighter green boxes), including and catalog institutions and initiatives working on this socioeconomic impact of intensive production; water and issue in the region. soil resource management; value chains; monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV); waste management and n Raise awareness of the Two-Degree Initiative, the business models. Moderate efforts (darker green boxes) Greening Livestock Landscapes Grand Challenge have been observed in the area of grazing management, with public, private and civil society actors, while silvopastoral systems, diet management, climate-adapted clearly placing the effort within the context of previous food and fodder, and genetic improvement. None of the and ongoing initiatives. suggested thematic areas were perceived as benefiting n Generate a demand-driven research agenda for the from abundant research and with solid partnerships to Grand Challenge, or at minimum start the discussion help bring to scale (Figure 1). toward defining the research for development (R4D) agenda. The consultation process consisted of a series of activities carried out during the months of July and August Climate-adapted feeds Genetic selection and 2020. The approach aimed to solicit feedback from a and forages improvement large number of individuals and institutions in the region Grazing management and then also facilitate deep dives into thematic topics Livestock Socio- GHG and sub-regional interests. Simultaneous translation was economic measureme provided to increase participation and inclusivity. The impacts of Sustainable nt, reporting consultation activities included: sustainable meat and and livestock dairy value verification n An online survey to analyze the main challenges Silvopastoral systems intensification chains (MRV) (gaps) and opportunities (existing initiatives) for the Viable sustainability of livestock landscapes in LAC, business Water and soil On-farm models to distributed to a group of over 300 key actors and resource livestock support stakeholders in the region. management waste sustainable in livestock management livestock n An online kick-off meeting to launch the dialogues. Diet management systems production More than 90 stakeholders in the region participated at the meeting which was structured into three Figure 1. Research gaps for sustainable livestock sessions: (i) introductions about the GRA, the Global landscapes. Dark green, large boxes indicate thematic Commission, the Two Degree Initiative, the Grand areas with significant research. Green boxes suggest Challenge, and the survey results, to set the context areas with modest research with some research gaps. for the consultations; (ii) four thematic break-out Light green, smaller boxes indicate areas with little groups, with each group covering key R4D priorities research and significant research gaps. as identified in the survey1; iii) a plenary session to report key reflections from the groups. Participants highlighted lead causes for limited research in these topics, including insufficient financial resources, n Three sub-regional group discussions held over limited capacities and knowledge, poor articulation and the following two days, to allow for more in-depth collaboration between research institutions, and little discussions of the desired outcomes, activities and demand-based research. Five R4D priority areas emerged from the survey and 1 The four priorities included: (1) Monitoring, Reporting and break-out group discussions and each of these priorities Verification (MRV), (2) Farm and landscape management; (3) lay the ground for scaling climate change mitigation Policy and governance; and (4) Value chains and private sector. actions in the region. These are summarized below, C C A F S I N F O N O T E 2 highlighting select knowledge gaps that could be precision (Tier 2-3) in several countries2; improvement of addressed by the Grand Challenge research agenda. farm baselines; improved resources and capabilities to monitor management practices to fully estimate GHG i. Value chains and the private sector emissions and removals in agriculture and livestock as Three priorities were highlighted for this thematic area: well as mitigation co-benefits (e.g. water conservation generation and dissemination of information on fair and and social-economic impact), and access to inclusive value chains; supply chain traceability systems; programmatic funds to finance long-term research. and impacts of adoption of sustainable practices. Specific knowledge and capacity gaps mentioned in the v. Co-benefits discussions include: analyses of local and regional-level The topic of co-benefits arose from break-out group value chain actors; value chain climate risk analyses; discussions on day 1 and highlights a need to strengthen integration of gender and youth lenses in value chain evaluations and communication of the indirect and analyses; inventories of sustainable practices and levels positive spin-offs that livestock practices can bring on of adoption; social, economic and environmental impacts; various levels: to ecosystems (e.g., biodiversity and soil robust analyses of value chain contributions to GHG health), to reduced climate vulnerability, nutrition and emissions; science and scientific communication using human health, to higher income derived from the increase the ONE Health approach (animal health, human health in formal employment in the sector, as well as to build and ecosystem health), among others. economically sustainable farm businesses. Participants underscored the importance of participatory co-benefit ii. Policies and governance evaluation, farmer field schools, and demonstration farms Top priorities were grouped around impact assessments as strategies to improve knowledge, awareness, and and guidance for the development and updating of adoption of sustainable practices that bring co-benefits. Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAS), Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), and more Opportunities ambitious subnational mitigation and adaptation The existing human capital in the region will undoubtedly strategies. Gaps identified refer to long-term strategies for play a key role in the development of the transformative the livestock sector; analyses of policy implementation research agenda. The available expertise is very diverse and bottlenecks, as groundwork for the design of and relevant for the five thematic areas to be pursued in appropriate incentive mechanisms; case studies on long- the region (Figure 2). More than a half of the survey term mixed financing schemes (green bonds, carbon participants have expertise in silvopastoral systems, credits) to support the transition to a sustainable livestock feeds and forages, pasture management, 43% in sector; effective communication between researchers, methodologies for quantifying GHG emissions, roughly a decision makers and local communities, to increase the third in value chains, a quarter in landscapes and MRV, flow of information and its adoption. and, to lesser extents (less than 20%) on soil science, iii. Farm and landscape management finance, private sector commitments, or international Key R4D priorities under this topic focus on co- negotiations, among others. About a third of this group of development and dissemination of knowledge and these actors represents public sector entities; one third capacity building on sustainable practices at the farm and universities and research centers; and another third landscape level. Additional work is needed in relation to represent development cooperation, non-governmental inventories of sustainable livestock management organizations and the private sector altogether. practices, adapted to geographic contexts; impacts of Collaboration possibilities range from participation in co- new and conventional on GHG emissions; socioeconomic design and implementation of programs and projects impact evaluations of livestock practices; improved (suggested by 83% of the survey respondents), carrying climate information and primary production systems; and out research activities (77% of respondents), to support tools to allow uptake and scaling of sustainable with technical advice (63%) and, to some lesser extents, management options. finance and co-finance of R4D activities (14%). iv. Monitoring, reporting and verification (MRV) Thematic priorities include methodologies for MRV and improvements in activity data and emission factors. According to participants, major knowledge and capacity gaps relevant for these priorities include: simple, easy-to- use and reliable MRV methodologies; guides to quantify carbon sequestration in grasslands and improve 2 According to the UNFCCC guidelines, Tier 1 methods utilize estimates of direct emissions from livestock; default IPCC emission factors, requiring basic, rather aggre- implementation of cost-effective methods or estimating gate, activity data. Higher tiers (Tier 2, Tier 3) refer to the use baselines and developing emission factors with higher of more elaborate accounting methods and data, usually dis-aggregated by region, activity, technology, among others. C C A F S I N F O N O T E 3 Strategic alliances with relevant stakeholders will add Other entities such as development partners, banks, non- value to the R4D agenda based on capacity and governmental organizations and global networks play a experience, while ensuring demand-driven solution to the vital role in advancing innovative finance mechanisms to knowledge and capacity challenges identified. For carry out activities on the R4D agenda, to generate farm instance, farmers groups, associations and federations and landscape co-benefits, as well as to scale successful linked to markets will play a key role in advancing the projects and programmes. R4D agenda on value chains, together with other private sector actors (small, medium and large enterprises, There is also an opportunity to leverage current and past banks, etc.) and research organizations. initiatives in the region relevant for the Grand Challenge. These can help to advance the research priorities identified and generate a space for learning and collaboration to address critical knowledge gaps. Below we provide a selection of these initiatives, as they were mentioned by stakeholders during the consultation process and are representative of many other ongoing initiatives in the region. Silvopastoral systems, 66% Feeds and forages, 52% In Colombia, GANSO Ganaderia Sostenible (GANSO Sustainable Livestock) provides technical assistance and financing support towards the transition to diversified and sustainable livestock production, through promotion od agro-silvopastoral systems and conservation of ecosystems. These practices generate environmental, Methodologies for agricultural GHG social and economic benefits, such as biodiversity Pasture management, emissions Value chains, conservation and capture of carbon dioxide, which can 50% assessments, 43% 34% translate into additional income for producers and mitigation benefits. GANSO is implemented by The Alliance Bioversity-CIAT and Climate Focus, with support from strategic public and private sector partners. Monitoring, reporting and Landscapes, verification Deforestation The Colombian Sustainable Livestock project promoted 25% (MRV), 24% , 22% the integration of trees (silvopastoral systems) and the Education/ conservation of native forests on cattle farms. It was teaching, 32% executed through a strategic alliance between the Private sector Colombian Federation of Livestock Farmers (FEDEGAN), Soil science, Finance, commitment the Center for Research in Sustainable Agricultural 19% 17% s, 16% Production Systems (CIPAV), Fondo Acción and The Nature Conservancy (TNC), with financing from GEF and Animal/ Inter. Enteric Breeding/ plant nego contributions from the partners. The project provided fermentation, reproduction, genetics, Other, t., technical assistance to around 2,000 livestock families to 28% 18% 13% 8% 7% implement sustainable livestock practices, offering them Figure 2 Available expertise on sustainable livestock in the opportunity to be part of payment for environmental LAC, as evaluated by survey respondents (n=103) services schemes and connectivity corridors. In Ecuador, the Climate-Smart Livestock project funded Alliances between research centers, universities, and by GEF and implemented by FAO, the Ministry of Environment and Water, and the Ministry of Agriculture livestock producer groups will be key critical for improving and Livestock, promoted the implementation of context- research on sustainable livestock practices and specific sustainable livestock practices in 165 pilot farms associated co-benefits, their implementation and scaling. on the sierra, coastal and Amazon regions. Online tools Local and national government actors will play a decisive were developed to quantify direct GHG emissions and to role in the design of public policies that enable the calculate farm-level climate risk and farmer trainings transition towards sustainable livestock; therefore, their ensured relevance and utility of these tools for farm participation in all major thematic areas will be key, decision-making. In addition, research carried out in the especially policy and governance, farm and landscape ambit of this project helped to define emission factors in management, MRV, and co-benefits, among others. the livestock sector for the national GHG inventory, allowing the country to move from Tier 1 to Tier 2. C C A F S I N F O N O T E 4 In Brazil, Liga do Araguaia was established in 2014 in the In addition, stakeholders highlighted the establishment of state of Mato Grosso, under the leadership of Grupo research networks in sustainable livestock, such as the Roncador. The league is a movement conformed by Low-Carbon Livestock Research Network, which brings private livestock producers who manage an area of together researchers from Argentina, Brazil, Chile, around 90,000 hectares, with the aim of recovering Colombia, Mexico, Peru and Uruguay, plus invited degraded areas, supporting and disseminating the countries such as New Zealand, Spain and France to adoption of good agricultural practices, generating value share valuable experiences and expertise on the topic. and competitive advantages in the sustainable and low- Along the same lines, the R4D CCAFS-led project emission beef production. "Agricultural innovations for the development of low- emission cattle value chains in Latin America" seeks to In addition, the Working Group on Sustainable Livestock strengthen South-South collaboration among value chain in Brazil (Grupo de Trabalho da Pecuárica Sustentável) actors in Colombia, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, brings together representatives from various sectors of Peru, and Nicaragua, with the goal to foster creative low- the production chain such as producers, retail industries, emissions business models, feasible MRV approaches, restaurants, civil society, financial institutions, academia public-private partnerships and alliances, and the and research centers, under a common agenda to development of finance mechanisms to accelerate promote sustainable livestock production. implementation of promising innovations. The Argentine Sustainable Beef Roundtable was recently Moving forward established in response to the new and growing consumer demand for sustainable and responsible This consultation process constitutes a first step towards production that allows balancing the social, economic and the co-design of a demand driven R4D agenda and the environmental impacts of livestock. The table is convened establishment or strengthening of strategic alliances for by the Global Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, transformative change in the region. Efforts to map out Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina and Arcos Dorados. key challenges for research on sustainable livestock were The initiative will help to define a locally relevant led by GRA and CATIE back in 2018; these listening sustainability standard for an environmentally healthy, sessions carried out in the framework of the Two Degree socially responsible and economically viable beef value Initiative fill additional knowledge gaps ever since. chain. An important issue that emerged during the consultation In Nicaragua, the project Ganadería Empresarial (GANE) is how to counter the negative reputation of livestock (2012-2016) facilitated increases in milk production by farming in the media. Many participants consider that due 28%, expansion of livestock products trade by linking to wrong messages in various media, livestock can be producers with higher-value markets, thus supporting seen as an activity with a highly negative environmental producer organizations and small dairy processors to impact. This situation suggests a key research question meet market commitments. GANE also improved the that needs to be addressed, related to changes in industry's ability to comply with international food safety behavior, messages, and communication. standards by implementing a traceability system and A key value add of these consultations was the visibility developing the capacity of the General Directorate of for the Grand Challenge. Because of its importance, Agricultural Protection and Health of the Ministry of many people work on this topic in various capacities. Agriculture and Forestry to provide animal health These dialogues provided the momentum for the CGIAR services. GANE was implemented by TechnoServe with and co-hosts to re-engage with stakeholders in countries funding from the United States Department of Agriculture we have been working in the past as well as to draw out (USDA) and in collaboration with the Nicaraguan new links across the region. Though participation was Chamber of the Dairy Sector. extensive and diverse, it also highlighted gaps in our In Honduras, the NAMA for a Low Carbon and Climate- networks where additional efforts need to double down to Resilient Livestock Sector seeks to accelerate the get perspective and participation. The value of nurturing implementation of sustainable livestock practices to existing and building new partnerships cannot be contribute to sectoral GHG emissions reductions. The overstated. They will be critical to the type of Action Plan for the implementation of the NAMA targets transformation that the Grand Challenge aims to support. the promotion of on-farm sustainable livestock practices, Further reading MRV activities, improvements in governance aspects, among others. The initiative is spearhead by the n CGIAR, 2020. La Iniciativa de Dos Grados. Available Secretariat of Agriculture and Livestock of the at: https://ccafs.cgiar.org Government of Honduras, with support from CATIE, the n GRA. 2018. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions UNEP - DTU alliance and with financing from the Nordic from livestock: best practice and emerging options. Climate Fund. C C A F S I N F O N O T E 5 Global Research Alliance on Agriculture and Greenhouse Gases. Available at: https://globalresearchalliance.org n Steiner A et al. 2020. Actions to transform food systems under climate change. Wageningen, The Netherlands: CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). Available at: https://cgspace.cgiar.org n Wilkes A. 2017. Measurement, reporting and verification of greenhouse gas emissions from livestock: current practices and opportunities for improvement. CCAFS Info Note. Copenhagen, Denmark: CGIAR Research Programme on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS). This brief summarizes findings from a series of online consultations carried out in July-August 2020, in the framework of the CGIAR Two Degree Initiative, as part of the Grand Challenge on Greening Livestock Landscapes LAC. The initiative is led by CIFOR-ICRAF and The Alliance Bioversity- CIAT, in collaboration with GRA and WRI. Contributors to this InfoNote: Daniela Pogliani (CIFOR-ICRAF), Todd Rosenstock (CIFOR-ICRAF and CCAFS), Andreea Nowak (CIFOR-ICRAF), Jacobo Arrango (The Alliance Biodiversity-CIAT), Martha Suber (CIFOR-ICRAF), Ciniro Costa Junior (CCAFS), Lini Wollenberg (University of Vermont), and Doris Cordero (independent consultant and facilitator of the stakeholder consultations). C C A F S I N F O N O T E 6